Best BMC Bikes

‍When you think about Swiss engineering, you might think of a Rolex. But the Swiss make some top-notch bicycles, too! What are the best BMC bikes?

The top BMC (Bicycle Manufacturing Company) bikes are listed below.

• Best Performance Road: Teammachine SLR 01
• Best Cross Country Bike: The Fourstroke 01
• Best Electric Bike: Roadmachine AMP One
• Best Hybrid Bike: The Alpenchallenge 01
• Best Gravel Bike: The URS LT

For the avid cyclist, there is always the need for unrelenting speed. In a sport where even a hundredth of a second can decide championships, this need for dominance is ingrained into the DNA of riders always looking for ways to save seconds. Whether it is better off-season training or the latest innovations in bicycle design, there seems to be a never-ending pursuit of the clock. For the staff at BMC, that has been the mantra for decades. Over the years, this Swiss manufacturer has been supplying the national team and sponsoring races while developing some of the best high-end bicycles on the planet.

‍What is BMC?

BMC (Bicycle Manufacturing Company) is a Swiss bicycle manufacturer that has been producing quality bikes for over thirty years. The company was founded by Bob Bigelow, who began his career as a wholesale distributor of Raliegh Bikes. After losing his distributorship a few years later, the company pivoted into making its high-end bicycle for the Swiss National Team. The company struggled financially under Bigelow’s leadership until 2001, when a member of the Swiss National team, Any Rihs, took over the reins. Rihs began to invest in innovation and design while increasing marketing exposure to promote the bikes. The company opened a production facility in Grenchen, Switzerland, where BMC continues to this day.

Over the years, BMC has led the industry in the technological advancement of bicycle design, and many of its innovations have impacted the world of competitive cycling. Their racing team, led by Cadel Evans, won the Tour de France in 2011, and the company has won several races since. In 2014, Julien Absalon won World XCO MTB, European MTB, UCI MTB World Cup, and the French MTB championships, all while riding a BMC mountain bike. In 2016, Greg van Avermaet won the Olympic road race in Rio on a Teammachine SLR 01. Now, with the formation of its Impec Research and Development Lab and the construction of an Olympic venue right next door to the factory, BMC continues to position itself at the forefront of road cycling.

Since Rihs passing in 2018, his vision for the company has continued to flourish. While his leadership has been acutely missed, BMC decided to close the chapter on its racing program. The refocus allows BMC to make well-crafted bicycles for every terrain and experience level. In 2021, the SLR, their leading road bike, is redesigned and revolutionized and sets the standard for competitors. During the past couple of years, BMC has added a new racing team to its resume, AG2R Citroen, and the new team makes an immediate impact, winning a stage in every grand tour event.

BMC bikes are best known as high-performance road bikes that are highly engineered, have lightweight frames and upgraded parts, and tend to be more expensive than their competitors. They are available online or through a series of independent bike shops across Europe and the United States.

What Are The Best Bikes from BMC?

BMC has made various bikes over the years. Here is a list of our favorites.

Best Performance Road Bike: Teammachine SLR 01

The Teammachine SLR has been developing the SLR for over a decade, with the latest rendition launched in 2020. The bike is a cross between the Roadmachine model built for endurance racing and the Timemachine Road bike, which makes speed its priority. It is evident that the company is seeking the best of both worlds, and to accomplish this task, this bike has been one of the most tested in the industry. The carbon frame with Aerocore Design is based on many Advanced Composites Evolution Technology research hours for design work, allowing engineers to achieve optimal weight, strength, and aerodynamic targets. The result of all this research and development is a bike that brings fantastic ride quality and enhanced speed improvements. The forks have been stretched and reshaped for aerodynamics. The SLR 01 is less heavy than most competitors' bikes, weighing only 17 lbs. While these enhancements might only shave a second or two off the pace, in the world of road cycling, even a second can be the difference between winning the yellow jersey or languishing in the pack.

The bike glides along effortlessly, chewing up the pavement. Shimano Ultegra shifters and derailleurs offer smooth transitions between gears. The hydraulic braking system uses 160 mm rotors on the front and rear, so the stopping distance has shortened. The cockpit is uniquely BMC, sleek and aerodynamic, with an ICS (Integrated Cable System) running cables through the handlebars and inside the frame.

The Vittoria Corsa Graphene 2.0 tires are excellent for damping vibrations and have good cornering capabilities. The bike attacks the hills, chewing up mountain roads like it is taking a walk in the park. The increased research has paid off, as the SLR 01 has steadily increased in sales and usage. There is a reason that the SLR has won most every kind of cycling event imaginable, from the Tour de France and the Olympic Games and the World Championships.  It is a fine bike for serious racers who don’t mind spending the dollars it takes to compete in the cycling world.

Pros

• Better aerodynamics than the most road bike
• Shimano shifters and derailleurs
• Integrated Cable System

Cons

• Expensive bike
• It can be challenging to purchase due to the popularity

Price

• For more information, see the manufacturer's website
• Check out Today’s Price on this website.

Best Cross Country Bike: The Fourstroke 01

The Fourstroke is one in a long line of mountain and cross-country racing bikes. There are four different options that range from avid cross-country competitors to riders who simply want a fast trail bike. The bikes are well-built for their purpose, with a premium carbon frame, which keeps the bike as light as possible but also endows it with enough stiffness to handle the rocky terrain. The Fox Float 32 SC Factory fork and Fox Float DPS Factory shock use a dual-piston design that can be adjusted by the rider to handle different terrain.

The Fourstroke 01 is sleek and exudes a strong presence on the trail. The wide tires have excellent grip, even on wet surfaces. SRAM Level Ultimate is a top-of-the-line cross-country braking system built with a dual piston system and a trimmed-down lever to reduce weight. Anyone screaming down an incline on a mountain trail knows how vital good nobby tires and brakes can be.

The Fourstroke has an excellent reputation for winning races. In 2014, Julien Absalon won multiple championships on a BMC Fourstroke, including the World Cup series title and the UCI Elite Men's Cross-Country World Championship. Over the years, the Fourstroke has continued to rack up trophies, with wins by Jordan Sarrou in 2020 and Titouan Carod won again in 2022 at the UCI Worlds. The Fourstroke also has Olympic gold hanging from its handlebars when Great Britains Tim Pidcock cruised to victory during the recent Tokyo games.

Pros

• The best XC bike on the market
• Adaptable shocks - can be set for any terrain
• Winner of multiple races and world championships
• Four options for riders who may not race competitively.
• Can be customized

Cons

• Expensive bike - may price out many riders

Price

• For more information, see the manufacturer's website
• Check out Today’s Price on this website.

Best Electric Bike: Roadmachine AMP One

BMC has plunged into the crowded field of e-bikes. Their Roadmachine AMP is the best of all the electric bikes that the company makes. When the company sought to make an e-bike, it set out to fashion a ride that didn’t look like a motor-powered bike. The designers turned to the already popular Roadmachine as a basis of production. The rest of the bicycle could stay unchanged by incorporating a tiny but powerful motor in the rear hub and a compact battery in the oversized downtube. If you put the AMP and the pedal yourself Roadmachine next to each other, you will first notice that the bikes look identical.

The folks at BMC aren’t interested in making an e-bike that does all the work. Instead, to keep the vision of bicycling alive, they prefer to promote a bike designed to assist the rider on inclines or at other times when additional assistance is needed. Too many competitors have electric bikes that can be switched for riders who don’t want to pedal. The motor in the bike does all the work, which defeats the whole purpose of bicycling.

While the battery is compact, it still takes about 3.5 hours to recharge. There are various options for riders that want to customize their bikes (the company offers three stock builds). At the same time, the e-bike is designed to aid the rider on inclines, transitioning in and out as the incline gets steeper. Most riders felt that the bike helped them get up an incline much faster, but on level terrain, the pedals still have to be pushed around without the aid of an electric motor.

Pros

• An electric bike that doesn’t look like an e-bike.
• Options for e-riders who need more power
• Uses the design of Roadmachine bike

Cons

• Expensive bike - may price out many riders

Price

• For more information, see the manufacturer's website
• Check out Today’s Price on this website.

Best Hybrid Bike: The Alpenchallenge 01

The Alpenchallenge is BMC’s offering for town and city commuting. Although the 01 is the high-end premium, it is also the most expensive. All models are equipped with solid aluminum frames rather than carbon, which lend themselves to the punishment that often happens in urban settings. The great thing about aluminum is that it is durable and long-lasting, does not rust, and still is light enough for the bike to be carried or mounted on a rack, should that be needed.

Like all BMC bikes, the Alpenchallenge is built to move with speed. The trouble with most hybrid bikes is that they tend to land on the practical side of the equation, which means that performance generally suffers. This is not the case with the Alpenchallenge. This bike balances both worlds (if anything, it leans toward performance). The bikes have disc brakes, good gripping tires, and a strong frame (all very practical) slender enough to move quickly through traffic. But the performance of the bike is terrific. It glides over the pavement with little to no vibration and has excellent handling in corners. You will find yourself getting to work with a lot less effort on this bike, that is for sure.

The bike has three separate builds, ranging in price from around $800 to over $3,250, which is excellent. Many urban commuters need a bike that will not break the budget, and BMC recognizes this dynamic. The most expensive Alpenchallenge bike is so much fun to ride, and it holds up so well, that it is the perfect hybrid for serious commuters or riders who make their living on their bike.

Pros

• A well-built urban commuter.
• Options for e-riders who need more budget-friendly options
• Built for speed
• Aluminum frame

Cons

• The bike is not designed for any type of off-road use.

Price

• For more information, see the manufacturer's website
• Check out Today’s Price on this website.

Best Gravel Bike: URS LT One

The URS derives its acronym from the word “unrestricted,” - which helps define the purpose of this bike. The URS is designed for gravel and dirt off-road racing, with an MTT suspension system that handles larger imperfections like roots, road cracks, and water washes that tend to be a part of off-road terrains. The suspension fork can be customized with three different springs so that the rider has options, tuning the suspension from soft to medium to hard.

While you might expect the URS to have wider tires, which usually aid in navigating more minor obstacles that are often a part of gravel riding, BMC has opted for a smaller tire. The bike is equipped with WTB Raddler tires  700c X 40 mm tire that surprisingly minimizes road vibrations while providing a tremendous grip that can dig in when needed.

The URS weighs just under 22 pounds which is relatively light for a gravel bike. Many bikes of this variety have opted for heavier frames to provide increased stability and durability over the long haul. BMC has perfected the secret of producing a robust and purposeful frame but making it so light that the rider doesn’t wear themselves out trying to pedal the extra weight up a hill.

The URS is not an inexpensive bicycle. And even though the price of BMC bikes might price out a large segment of gravel riders, the URS is a top competitor in this market.

Pros

• A well-built gravel rider.
• Options for suspension stiffness
• Built for speed and comfort despite off-road
• The company just offered a URS AL with an Aluminum frame.

Cons

• The bike is not made for street riding.

Price

• For more information, see the manufacturer's website
• Check out Today’s Price on this website.